government

Wisconsin Republican state lawmakers are suing the Democratic attorney general, arguing that he's not complying with laws passed during a lame-duck legislative session in December that limited his and the incoming governor's powers shortly before they took office.

Republicans who control the Legislature filed the lawsuit Thursday against Attorney General Josh Kaul with the conservative-controlled state Supreme Court.

A lot has happened in foreign policy this past month. The Greek economic crisis continues and the International Monetary Fund is warning of a gloomy outlook for the Eurozone; the Iran nuclear arms deal has been accepted by all parties; and the United States and Cuba continue to move ever closer to normal diplomatic relations after decades.

In addition, President Obama has been on a state visit to Africa since last Friday. Foreign policy contributor Art Cyr comments on the President's message to Africa and the many other recent events underway across the Atlantic:

Today is the 13th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that brought down planes and buildings in New York; Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. In the time since then, laws have been passed, measures have been taken and technology developed in the name of improving our national security.

Now that the primary election votes have been counted and the results are in, we need to take a look at how the votes cast will impact Wisconsin's future as the winners now move forward to the November elections.

Lake Effect's Mitch Teich spoke with Julia Azari, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Marquette University, about the meaning of voter turnout in the primary, the results themselves, and what voters should look for as the candidates gear up for the main elections.

The start of July means we are roughly four months away from Election Day, the first Tuesday in November. Wisconsin’s race for Governor will be among the most closely watched in the country, with Scott Walker facing his second challenge since he was elected four years ago.

Walker, who dispatched a recall challenge in defeating Tom Barrett two years ago, will likely face businesswoman and former state Commerce Secretary Mary Burke.

Twenty years ago this weekend, Nelson Mandela was sworn in as president of South Africa. It was pinnacle of a period of remarkable change in that country – that included Mandela’s freedom from prison after 27 years, and the end of the Apartheid era in which blacks and other non-white South Africans were denied the rights and freedoms that whites had.

Across the country, cities and counties are running out places to turn for cash. Residents complain that taxes are too high but then wince at cuts to services. In southeast Wisconsin and elsewhere, leaders are turning to a third option: consolidation of services or of whole communities. While it can save millions, some critics say autonomy is more important.